Signal device for roadways



Patented Apr. 8, 1924.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

FREDERICK w. Mo n nHAUER AND WILLIAM P. MOLDENHAUER, or oooivonowoo,

wIscoNsnv.

SIGNAL DEVICE FOR RQADWAYS.

Application filed October 13, 1923. Serial No. 668,355.

7 '0 all whom it may concern:

Be it known that we, FREDERICK W. MOLDEN'HAUEE and WILLIAM P. MoLDEN-HAUER, both citizens of the United States,

and residents of Oconomowoc, in the county of VVaukeshaand State ofWisconsin, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in SignalDevices for Roadways; and we do hereby declare that the following is afull, clear, and exact description thereof; I I

This invention relates to signal devices for roadways.

In driving automobiles at night, consider- T able difficulty has beenencountered due to the blinding effect of an approaching vehiclesheadlights. This effect is so pronounced that it is difficult for onedriver in passing another to keep on the roadway, or if he keeps uponthe roadway, to be sure that he is not crossing the center line of suchroadway. As is well known, highways are usually provided with a paintedline down their center so as to aid drivers in keeping upon their halfof the road.

However, at night it is practically impossible to see this line whenother vehicles are approaching, and also this difliculty is enhanced byrain as a reflecting sheet is formed over the roadway and the glare fromthe approaching headlight is even more intense.

It is to overcome these difficulties in night of the central or sideline of the roadway.

In other words, this device is so constructed that it'utilizes the lightof an approaching automobile to warn another automobile from theopposite direction and utilizes some of the li ht which otherwise wouldbe blinding in its efi'ect upon an approaching driver.

Further objects are to provide a signal device for roadways which doesnot require auxiliary means to light it up, which is of simple andsubstantial construction, which is relatively small and does notneedlessly obstruct the roadway, and which may be cheaply formed andquickly installed.

An embodiment of the invention is shown in the accompanying drawings, inwhich Figure 1 is a front View of the device.

Figure 2 is a plan view thereof.

Figure 3 is a sectional view on the line 3-8 of Figure 2 showing thedevice as it appears when secured in position.

Figure 1 is a diagrammatic view showing the operation of the device.

The device comprises an upstanding portion 1 which has a rounded uppersurface and rounded side edges. It is generally in the shape of a wedge,as shown in Figure 3, and gradually widens as the base is approached. Itmerges into a base 2 which may be substantially circular, asillustrated. in the drawings, although, obviously, the wedge shape ofthe upstanding member 1 might even more gradually merge into the basethan shown in the drawings.

This base is secured in any suitable manner as by means of screws 3 toanchor portions 41 secured in the concrete or other road bed 5. Theseanchor portions may be separated if desired, or may be integrallyformed, as shown in Figure 3. The upstanding portion 1 is provided withtwo inwardly slanting conical recesses 6- which are separated by meansof a transparent partition 7. This partition is preferably slipped intoa slot opening through the top of the vertical member 1 and after beingpositioned the upper end of the slot is preferably closed by a suitableform of cement 8.

The Partition 7 is preferably colored and, as stated, is transparent,for instance, a red or a green glass member, celluloid or other suitabletransparent member could be readily employed.

The functioning of the device is as follows: As diagrammatically shownin Figure 4 two approaching automobiles throw divergent cones of lightrays, as indicated at 9 and 10, respectively, which pass through thetransparent colored portion 7 of-the device and thus project coloredbeams of light from the device. It is obvious, therefore, that insteadof the approaching vehicles headlights merely blinding a driver theyilluminate the colored transparent member and thus apprise the driver ofthe correct center line or side line of the roadway, as the case may be.

As shown in Figure 4, the device is so arranged a to indicate the centerline of.

and is not intended to show the exact spacing of the device. Forinstance in actual practice it is contemplated setting the devices ahundred or more feet apart, although at a considerable distance verymuch in excess of one hundred feet these devices are effective.

Although the invention has been described in considerable detail, it isto be understood that the invention may be variously enibodied and is,therefore, to be limited only as claimed.

We claim:

1. A signal. device adapted to be positioned upon a roadway comprising abody portion projecting upwardly from such roadway and having an openingthere through adapted to permit light from an approaching automobile topass through such opening, and a colored transverse member positionedacross such opening.

2. A signal device for a roadway comprising a bod 1 portion having anupstanding horizonta ly apertured portion and a supporting base, meansfor anchoring said base in the roadbed, said upstanding portion having aslot therein transversely of said aperture, a colored transparent memberlocated within said slot, and means for retaining said member inposition.

In testimony that we claim the foregoing we have hereunto set our handsat Oconoinowoc, in the county of Waukesha and State of Wisconsin.

FREDERICK W. MOLDENI-IAUEE. WILLIAM F. MOLDENHAUER.

